Saw measuring guide



De. 22, 1964 o. E. RAAB ETAL sAw MEASURING GUIDE:

INVENTORS. CHESTER E. KIRK OWEN E. RAAB Filed Aug. 26, 1963 ATTORNEYS Dec 22, 1964 o. E. RAB ETAL l 3,162,220

sAw MEASURING GUIDE Filed Aug. 26', 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IOC INVENToRs. CHESTER E, KIRK A BY OWEN E. RAAB ATTORNEYS Dec. 22, 1964 o. E. RAAB ETAL sAw MEASURING GUIDE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 26, 1963 INVENTORJ BY n/E/v E. ,AA

rrae/vfKs.

Dec. 22, 1964 o. E. RAAB ETAL 3,162,220

sAw MEASURING GUIDE Filed Aug. 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 loo BY @W5/v E ,QA/15 United States Patent O 3,162,220 SAW MEASURING GUIDE Owen E. Raab, R0. Box 389, and Chester E. Kirk, 704 N. 17th St., both of Corvailis, Greg. Filed Aug. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 304,451 3 Claims. (Cl. 143-174) This invention relates to a saw measuring guide, and

is particularly applicable to cut-off saws or similar de vices where it is necessary or desirable to measure rigid material, such as lumber stock and the like, exactly and quickly, when repeated lengths are cut to a predetermined length, and comprises a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 42,423, iiled July 12, 1960, of the same title.

' A primary object of the invention is the provision of a saw meauring guide which isA adapted to be attached to and along the side of a conventional framework of a roller conveyor or shop platform used for supporting rigid material while it is being cut by the saw, having one end attached to the saw table, which saw measuring guide may be readily adapted for measuring the lengths of rigid material, and which is provided with both a coarse and a line adjustment means for accurate measuring.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a saw measuring guide of this character including a oarriage provided with stop members at suitable intervals, as for example, one foot, along the supporting framework of the roller conveyor to allow coarse measurements in units of one foot, or its equivalent metric unit, and in which thetre is additionally provided a Vernier screw device forselectively measuring the rigid material in inches, centimeters or division thereof.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a fine adjustment of this character in which a chain and sprocket means is untilized for moving the carriage of the isaw measuring guide toward Vand away from the saw.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a line adjustment in which a rack and pinion gear is utilized for moving the carriage of the saw measuring guide toward'and away from the saw.

VA further object of the invention is the provision of means for locking the carriage of the saw measuring guide in any desired position of adjustment so that saw cuts can be made as desired.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character whereby a large number of pieces of rigid material may be individually cut without the necessity for repeated settings of the carriage for each openation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above character which reduces the chance of errors associated vwith the individual measuring of each piece since, while cutting each individual piece of rigid material, the latter is measured accurately and positively and prohibits any chance of error, such as might be occasioned by the misreading of a rule, or the slippage thereof.

Still further objectsreside in the combination of elements, arrangements of parts, land features of construction,

all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom detail plan view of the structure of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6 of FIG. 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line '7 7 of FIG. 2, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, the pivoted weight member being shown in dotted lines in nonoperative position;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the roller conveyor as shown in FIG. l, as viewed from the left, certain parts thereof being shown in section; j

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing a partial assembly to illustrate the braking means cooperating with the sprocket and chain drive means of the carriage means of the saw measuring guide;

FIGURE l0 is a plan view of the top rail of the movable carriage;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the bottom support rail before assembly;

FIGURE 12 is a detailed view of the threaded bolt means used in the second embodiment of the invention as a slide bolt guide means and carriage locking means;

- FIGURE 13 is a sectional View of the top carriage rail means and bottom support rail means for the carriage means, being held together by the slide bolt means as illustrated in FIG. 12 with the addition of a securing self locking nut;

FIGURE 14 is a partial front elevation view of the second embodiment of the invention with the conventional saw means removed;

FIGURE 15 is likewise a partial plan view of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a partial sectional view through the movable top rail carriage means and the stationary bottom rail showing a modified assembly of the locking means of this embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 17 is a side elevation view of the structural support means for the driving chain and sprocket means of the carriage means for the second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 18 is a plan view of FIG. 17; and

FIGURE 19 is 'a bottom or back view of FIG. 17.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in general, and more particularly to FIGS. l-S, there is generally indicated at 10 the framework of a conventional roller conveyor, which comprises a, pair of oppositely disposed channel member 10A and 10B, across which are mounted at suitable spaced intervals rollers 10C carried by axles 10D suitably supported in channels 10A and 10B. Conveyor means 10 may be replaced by a conventional shop support table, if desired.

The ends of channel members 10A and 10B are suitably secured to the saw table 11 by means of pivot pins 11A carried by lugs or ears 11B projecting outwardly from the table, as best shown in FIG. l.

Extending outwardly from one side of the framework of the roller conveyor 10 there are a plurality of brackets 13, each of which is of substantially L-shaped conliguration, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. These brackets are suitably secured, as by means of bolts 13A, which extend through suitable holes through the vertical sides of bracket 13 and channel member 10B shown in FIG. 3. Each of the brackets 13 has along one of the opposite sides of its horizontal .arm parallel iianges 13B-13B which serve as a guide-way for an elongated L-shaped movable carriage 14. Y Y

The carriage 14 is linearly movable in the guide-.way

through the brackets13 in a manner and for a purpose to v be more fully'described hereinafter, and the saw table 11 is cut away as at 11C toprovide a slot intov which kthe inner endof the carriage may extend. Y'

Suitable stopY members, each generally indicated at 16,` are positioned in set relationship along the vertical ange 14a of the carriage-14and take Vthe formV 'of Vsupport 310 members 28, which areformed with slots 29 for Vreceiving f the verticallyV positioned flange 14A of this carriage and are securedrthereto byvmeansV of clamping screws 26. A

suitable abutment or weight member 27 of this carriage is :A pivotall'y mounted on the upper end'portion 'of each ofthe' l support members 28 and is connected/thereto by a pivot 30, and isradapted to swing outwardly as best shown in-y FIG. 7.

erative engagement with the handle 35 will occasion rotationof the screw threaded end `36A in the boss 36B to conveyor near to the saw tablell.

move the lug 36C into clampingV engagement vwith lthe lhorizontal flange' 14B.

As best shown in FIG.V 6, means is provided for limiting the travel of the carriage 14 relative to the conveyor frame 10, and this means takes the `form of straps 24e-24 which j are suitablyrsecured to the underside of the horizontal ange 14B, in otset relationship, as by vertical lugs 24A. These straps terminate beyond the inner end of the carriage 14, and extend along the opposite sides of a rectangular boss 17C ony legsf17B,"adjacent theencl of the roller The end of the roller conveyor v10.disposed away from the saw table 11 `is supported on a tripodV member which ismgenerally indicated at 12, and which includes avertically positioned rod 41 torwhich diverging legs 42 are l secured by means 'of a collar 471A, the legs 42 being spaced in angular relationship around the collar 41. A set screw 43 secures the collar Y41A in position.

The upper end otrod 41 is pivotally connected, ,as by means of Aa'pivot 39A, between ears 3 9-39which are securedfon a"roller.40. This roller 40 is mounted between :the diverging legs of an angle iron 38 which extends when theweight member 27 is in nonoperating position,

as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7.. l j Y y It will thus be apparent that, whenit is desired to saw otf la piece of rigid'material such as lumber or the like, of a given length, the selected weight member 27 is swung in an outwardly `position and' Will be` held therein by counter weight 31 about the pivot 30. By ladjustment of the positioning screw 25, the exact appropriatevdistance,

transversely'between the `channel members 10A and 10B, the arrangement being such that the ears 39 mayV thus swing in a direction parallel tothe roller conveyor, while A' the rod 41 may swing in a direction perpendicular thereto, thus permittingxsubstantially universal adjustment of the such as one `.Eoot or tencenti'meters, fromfthe saw blade" is pre-adjusted, n *When itis desired to lcut olf a longery piece of rigid material, say-a foot'longer, the weightV member 27 may be swung backtoits vertical or nonoperative position, as shown indotted lines in FIG. 7, and the 'next adjacent weight member along the` carriage 14 swung outwardly. The weightmembers 27 arel self biasingV to an outwardly rigid position by their own weight. When sawing oit Va piece of rigid material -of;.a length. greater 'tripod to compensate'for uneven ground, or other supportingy surface, uponwhich the roller conveyor is posi.

Y tioned, to maintain the rack on an even plane.

' `From the foregoing the use andoperation of the embodiment of FIGS.r lf8 should now'begreadily apparent. When it is desired to measure awork piece. of rigidy material, Vthe selected Weight member 27 is'l swungpoutwardly intokthe path of the piece of rigid rnateriaLpsoY that the l, head of the positioning screw 25 crriedthereby is in Hthe path of the' piece of yrigidmaterial. Adjustment is than the distance from the saw to the first stop member 4 desiredn'umber ofsimilarpieces of identical length may 16, the adjacent one sides of members 2810i' the stopy members ahead of the stop memberl beingused form a lateralv guide for this'piece of rigid material being sawed,

as also shown in dotted` lines in FIG. 7. Y

V'Vernier adjustment means is provided-for adjusting the and this means takesthe formV of a graduated scale member 17 provided withy indicia-17A,jpreferably marked ott,

in inches and fractions of ant inch L'orthe like, andfhaving horizontal arms 171B-17B secured to the channelme'mberj secured on thehorizontal flange 14B of the carriage. On the under side-of the horizontal iiange 14B ofvthe carthen made by means of thee/rank handle 21 to the exact t requisite number of inches, and the operating handlev 35 is then partially rotated to lock the carriage 14 inthe selected position. After-the adjustment is Vonce made, any

be sawed without further adjustment' of the carriage.

When readjustment is desired, release ofthe operating k'YV/handle 35 permits aA furthermovem'ent of the carriage '14, within the limit'ota foot; to arrequisite number of 10B by meansof screws 17D. A pointerflv is ffxedlyAV riage therev is' a suitable rack '23.'v This rackisen'gaged by Va pinion 19 which is mounted on a'shaft 20 journalledr in the'channel'members 10A and'10-B and-held Yagainst axial movement by collars 22.` This shaft has" atits outer end'a crank handle 21, which is pivotallyV mounted--V on the end of the shaft by a pivot 21A. gA Obviously, rotation of thel crank 21 will effect minutev adjustmentV of the Means are also providedjfor 'locking the -carriage 1.44 against longitudinal movement', and inthis embodiment of inches,'the several stops lbeingtso arrangedvalong thev ,locking'meansbetweenf carriage means v50 and stationary f bottom'rail structure 51' which lxedly clamps Y,members 50 andi 5,1- together when carriagemeans 50 isy properly adjusted for a desired length origidmaterial to be cut. The'y guide means between carriage meansr 50qandstationary: rail' support structure vc vnsisrtsfof Jslot 'andV guide bolt Ymeans as shown in, FIGURE 13;. The'bolt means 63 'of FIG; 12 is lemployedin the locking means. y The vchain adjustmentmeans of this embodiment for carriagef means "50' consists generally. of sprocket chains Y 52, and S3. Sprocket-chain 53 Vis supported on shaft l"means 54 and 55;'by sprocketrmeans 60and'61, respec- "tively: ,Shaft nleafn'sV V54 is journalledin, structuralv memthe inventiongthis .maisk takesth'e form yor an Operating.

handleiy 35 secured to Ya shaft-:."f3"6,fthelen'cl of whichijs j A A ages in afbossSB on: *theunderside of a clampinglug 36C', whichlugris replaced 'for one of lugs 13B: inY-asel'ected onelf the'brc I ers Y13; f A conjarl Sinaholdsthefsnaftifr,pastriesY dja? cent channel 10A.i' Obviously, partial rotationvof'theop- 1 screw threaded 'asv at 36A' and eng ber'57 secur'edfby; plural-bolt'means 58 to'channel member 10B".`v` vSlklaft,means'55'issu1fvported inany suitable j bearing' means 59 offr'ailisupport structure'Sl. Sprocketr 1 chain;53'isjsecuredrtofcariage means 50-by'fazbolt-means ps7, similartqrhe vtelt Qua/reani.6s` of, FIGURE i'zfhavig" a f y'suitable lug nut -rneansV 62jl forfixed attaclirnent'-toV sprocket chain means53; Chain means S3l1la`rs a yconventional adjustment or take-up means 64 for proper operation. `The bolt means 87 for chain 53 is secured to carriage means 50 by aperture 66 shown in FIGURE 10, and also slides in slot means 65 of bottom rail structure 51 as shown in FIGURE 11.

The guide means between carriage means 50 and stationary bottom or rail support structure 51, more specifically, consists of a bolt means 88 similar to bolt means 63 of FIGURE 12, in association with a self locking nut means 70. This nut and bolt means is secured in aperture 71 of stationary rail structure 51 of FIGURE 1l, and slide in slot 73 of carriage means 50 of FIGURE 10.

Sprocket chain 52 is supported on sprocket means 77 and 78 carried by shafts 75 and 54, respectively. Shaft 75 is journalled in conventional bearings in the top portion of vertical structural member 57 and is xedly attached to manual crank means 76 or other desired means.

The locking means of this embodiment of the invention,.more specically, consists of handle means 67 secured in opening 80 of body means 79 by screw means 81 and threaded aperture 81A. Body means 79 of the locking means is connected to carriage means 50 and lower support structure 51 by the bolt means 63 in slot means 74 and aperture 72, respectively, as shown in FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 15.

To make an adjustment in this embodiment of the invention, locking means 69 is released by manually turning crank means -67 counterclockwise when looking in plan. Then crank 76 is turned as desired to rotate chain 52 through sprocket means 77 carried by shaft means 75 turning sprocket 78 which turns chain 53 by sprocket means 60 through shaft 54 in a desired direction which transmits movement to carriage means 50 through lug nut 62 and bolt means 87.

In FIGURES and 11 slot means 65, 73, and 74 each have at one end an enlarged opening to receive the enlarged portion of bolt means 63, 87, and 88. Referring to FIGURE 12 the bolt means 63 has a milled and ilat sided neck portion 63A. Each of the bolt means 63, 87 and 88 have similar at sided neck portions which are used to slide in slots 73, 74, and 65 of carriage member 50 and stationary rail structure 51, respectively, both as a carriage guide means and as a locking means between carriage means 50 and stationary rail support structure 51.

Certain reference numerals of the embodiment of FIG- URES 1-8 represent like parts in FIGURES 9-19, namely, conveyor channel member 10A, rollers 10C, axles 10D, saw table 11, lugs 11B, supporting tripod 12 consisting of members 41, 41A, and 43, stop members 16, scale means 17 carrying indicia 17A, and pointer 18. For the sakek of clarity other parts already named and described with reference to FIGURES l-8 which are also applicable in common to FIGURES 9-19 are purposely omitted as being understood by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the conventional saw means is removed for the sake of clarity.

FIGURE 14 discloses the new locking means 69 for carriage means 50 consiting of body member 79, crank means 67 and screw means 81, as shown. The structural member 57 and manual crank means 76 are also shown, all the above being more fully illustrated and described with reference to FIGURES 9 and 15. Also support brackets 56 have been added for additional support for the conveyor means of FIG. 14.

FIGURE 15 is a partial plan view of FIGURE 14 in which graduated scale 17 is secured to channel member 10B, horizontal portions 17B of scale means 17 are shown with pointer means 18 attached to carriage means 50 as in FIGURE 2. FIGURE 15 also illustrates in plan new locking means 69 consisting partially of handle means 67, body means 79 and screw means 81. Crank means 76 and structural means 57 of the new chain drive means for carriage means 50 is also shown in plan.

FIGURE 16 discloses in partial cross-section a moditied lmanner of assembly of carriage member 50 and stationary support member 51 with respect to locking means 69 consisting of Vbolt means 63 carried in slot 65 of bottom structural support member 51 and aperture 68 of carriage means'50. Bolt means 63 is connected to body member 79 by threaded aperture 83 as shown. Crank means 67 is secured in aperture 80 of body member 79 by threaded screw 81 in threaded aperture 81A. Of course, slot means 65 in this embodiment would have to be suiiicient in length to accommodate both bolt means 63 of locking means 69 and bolt means 87 secured to sprocket chain S3 in order to avoid contact between the same in operation.

FIGURES 17-19 disclose the structural support means 57 for chain 52 and sprockets 77 and 78. Journal means 84 carries shaft means 75 and journal means 85 carries shaft means 54. The four bolt holes 86 are for securing structural member S7 by bolt means 58 to channel member 16B as shown in FIGURE 9.

To operate the embodiment of the invention as shown Iin FIGURES 9 through 19, for a desired length of rigid material to be cu-t, locking means 69 is loosened by turning handle 67 counterclockw-ise as seen in plan. Then crank means 76 is `appropriately turned in a direction to position pointer means 18 fixed to carriage means 50 to a desired unit of indicia on fractional food scale 17a, after which locking means 69 is locked by turning crank means 67 clockwise. The carriage overhang lever means of a selected stop means 16 with a designated lever stop means having a desired foot measurement indicia on it, is in position over the carriage means 50 contiguous to conveyor means 10 and a refined measurement adjustment in nal is made by appropriately turning screw means 25 of stop means 16. The saw measuring guide is then in proper adjustment for cutting pieces of rigid material to a desired selected length.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved saw measuring guide which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limi-ting sense.

We claim:

1. For use with a saw table and conveyor arranged in tandem relation, said conveyor including a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending frame element, a measuring guide comprising a bracket of Lshaped configuration, said bracket having one flange vertical and adapted to be secured to said frame element exteriorly of said conveyor, said bracket having the other ange thereof horizontal and above said one flange, an upwardly facing guideway on Asaid other ange, a carriage mounted in said guideway for sliding longitudinal movement therealong, said carriage including an upright flange arranged in parallel relation with respect to said guideway, a vertically disposed support member slideably mounted on said upright flange for longitudinal back and forth movement therealong, a vertically disposed abutment member positioned adjacent said support member and having the portion adjacent the upper end thereof pivotally connected to said support member for swinging movement from the vertical position to a position in which the portion of said abutment member adjacent the lower end projects over said conveyor into the path of movement of a work piece on said conveyor when said bracket one tlange is secured kto said conveyor frame element, a weight carried by the upper end of said abutment member and operable by the force of gravity to hold said abutment member in the projected position when manually moved from the vertical position, means for effecting the longitudinal movement of said carriage along said v end thereofgsa'id support member .being positions:

guideway, andmeans for locking said carriage ina selected position with respeottosaid guideway.

2. For use 'with a sawl table landl'cfonveyor arranged in tandem relation, 'said conveyor including a1 horizontally disposed longitudinally extending frame element, a 'measff uring guide Vcomprising a bracket of lalshaped configuraguideyvay vvtpcir', sliding longitudinal movement therealo'ng,

^ saidy carriage' including an uprightgange arranged liii par'- tionysatid bracket having one ange vertical Vand adaptedf to be secured to said frame' element yext'eriorly offsaid conveyor,'said bracket'having the other 'flange theret" horizontal and above said onelflaiige, an upwardly -`facing guidewayron said other flange, a carriage .rnountedinl said guideway for` sliding@ longitudinal: movement''thegrezalong; said carriagerincluding ari upright?flange xranky d in parallel relation With respect'Y to isa'id guidev/ayt, `ajv tically disposed supportl member provided ,with' 5 ai tically `arranged `-slot extending upwardly from. thel` said/slot receiving the portion of'isfaidupright flange-Sadi cent the upperrend thereof, :said supporti member being:`

slideable along said upright flange'ila vertically abutmentmembe'r positioned .adjacent said sppo'rtrrneinf ,220 v A n jfrbmlie" verticalpos'ition", means .fori'effecting' the -lonber and having the portloiradjacentnthe'upper end thereofv pivotally connected to said 'support' member .for swinging movementV from the'` vertical"position: .to a/Apositioiilin Which theportion of said abutment'imember adjacent the lower-end `projects over said y'conveyor vinto thepatli 'of movement of a work` piece on said conveyorwhenttsaid bracketone flangeis secured to said conveyor frame ele.-

:ment, a weight carried by the upper end 'offsaidlabutmentr member and operable yby theforce Vof gravity to' hold said abutment member in the projected position Awhen manually moved .from the jtvert'icalposition, means for effecting the longitudinal movement of said carriagealorig said guideway, andmeans'fo locking said carriagezinfa selected position with respect to said guideway.

3. For use with a saw table andconveyor arranged in tandem relation, said conveyor inch'idingl a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending frame element, a'measuringl guide comprisingfabracket of L-shapedkcongural' .f tion, said bracket having one ilange vertical and adapted' to `be secured t'o-said frameelementieXteriorly of said conveyor, said bracket havingfftheotherange thereof Vhorizontal and above -said' one Hangman upwardly facing guideway ori vsa'itl otherange' a` carriage mounted-in said 'inent .from ervertical 'positionvto "a psitionlin y.vi/.hich' the portioilofsaid labutment meinberfadjacent` the lov'ver end V- projects overi said z'conv'eyor'l into' 'the path 'omoveme'nt H o' a; .Work piece on' .'said conveyor Wheirl said'bracket 'one angeiisisecuredito said conveyor frame'elementfa Weight carried :Hy ther upperL end,A ofA sai'dl abutment" reiriber- `and operable the force'l ofty gravity to hold 'A said abutment member ini the Y.'piicje'cted.:positionl when if manually moved 'y yange and operable lwhenfrnovedV :inV one. direction to ',clampin'glyi"engage,an` edge portion of saidv carriage and to bia'ssai'dcaria'ge against lories'ide of said guideway, and vmanually loperable screw means forv effecting the` move;

' by tlliiKan-linel" t UNiTED STATES f LEONlPEARyExqfiner.; l 

1. FOR USE WITH A SAW TABLE AND CONVEYOR ARRANGED IN TANDEM RELATION, SAID CONVEYOR INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FRAME ELEMENT, A MEASURING GUIDE COMPRISING A BRACKET OF L-SHAPED CONFIGURATION, SAID BRACKET HAVING ONE FLANGE VERTICAL AND ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO SAID FRAME ELEMENT EXTERIORLY OF SAID CONVEYOR, SAID BRACKET HAVING THE OTHER FLANGE THEREOF HORIZONTAL AND ABOVE SAID ONE FLANGE, AN UPWARDLY FACING GUIDEWAY ON SAID OTHER FLANGE, A CARRIAGE MOUNTED IN SAID GUIDEWAY FOR SLIDING LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT THEREALONG, SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING AN UPRIGHT FLANGE ARRANGED IN PARALLEL RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID GUIDEWAY, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED SUPPORT MEMBER SLIDEABLY MOUNTED ON SAID UPRIGHT FLANGE FOR LONGITUDINAL BACK AND FORTH MOVEMENT THEREALONG, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED ABUTMENT MEMBER POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND HAVING THE PORTION ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT FORM THE VERTICAL POSITION TO A POSITION IN WHICH THE PORTION OF SAID ABUTMENT MEMBER ADJACENT THE LOWER END PROJECTS OVER SAID CONVEYOR INTO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF A WORK PIECE ON SAID CONVEYOR WHEN SAID BRACKET ONE FLANGE IS SECURED TO SAID CONVEYOR FRAME ELEMENT, A WEIGHT CARRIED BY THE UPPER END OF SAID ABUTMENT MEMBER AND OPERABLE BY THE FORCE OF GRAVITY TO HOLD SAID ABUTMENT MEMBER IN THE PROJECTED POSITION WHEN MANUALLY MOVED FROM THE VERTICAL POSITION, MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE ALONG SAID GUIDEWAY, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID CARRIAGE IN A SELECTED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID GUIDEWAY. 